tOSU Indiscretions of May (Mega Merge)

[Oh8ch]

This does not stop until the school or staff decides to stop it.

I agree, but I am still opposed to making Haw or anyone else "an example",

If this was an isolated incident it is no big deal. The law (and by extension society) see's this as a $100 fine - no jail time. As someone else pointed out less than a speeding ticket.

The problem when you see a pattern of mistakes such as we are seeing is with management. It is the coaches responsibility to solve this problem. But when the coach say's "I am going to kick Eric Haw to the curb to set an example" what he is really saying is "I failed. I can't do my job. So I (the guy with the million dollar salary) am going to punish you (the amateur who drives the multi-millioin dollar machine) inordinately because I can't think of any othe way to solve the problem."

If JT does that it would be a shame and it would be an admission of failure on his part. If that is all the better he can do I am sorely disappointed.

And one more thing - I would take a dozen DUI's and Marijuana busts rather than see a single Reggie Germany 0.0. GPA. THAT was a failure by the coaching staff.

(BTW - Is this a record for most responses to a thread in a 24 hour period?)

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

I am not going to sit here and say have all the answers but something needs to be done to get through to these kids.

17 arrests is not what OSU wants from their football program and it seems like these types of things are happening every month. I believe the players do not fear the punishment and for that I blame the coaching staff and the athletic department.

I am not saying "one and done" but something needs to be done to make these kids think twice about all the BS.

 

[exhawg]

Personally I think the best way to handle this is to treat Haw like he had a positive drug test with the NCAA, which I believe is a one year suspension. Is there really a difference between being caught smoking weed and to test positive in a drug test? Most guys that I played with who liked to smoke weed only did it during the summer so that they couldn't be tested. Personally I think a two game suspension and a trip to the dog house would be fine. I've never heard of anyone getting kicked off a team for just smoking weed.

 

[LordJeffBuck]

The problem when you see a pattern of mistakes such as we are seeing is with management. It is the coaches responsibility to solve this problem. But when the coach say's "I am going to kick Eric Haw to the curb to set an example" what he is really saying is "I failed. I can't do my job. So I (the guy with the million dollar salary) am going to punish you (the amateur who drives the multi-millioin dollar machine) inordinately because I can't think of any othe way to solve the problem."

Honest question - what else can the coaches do? What other way can JT solve the problem?

 

[High Lonesome]

Lonesome,


It's hard to say with someone that young who hasn't had a chance to take the field yet in terms of his NFL prospects, which plays to my earlier point about suspending him for a period of time from playing (I said a month) and see if he learns his lesson or not. I absolutely don't advocate kicking him to the curb...but he must be punished.

The flip side of your argument Lonesome is what if football is the only real reason he is going (or can afford to go) to college? I know, there are inherent problems with that approach in an ideal world too, but I'd rather see the kid stick around and get his education than cut him loose for a misdemeanor.

I could not agree more.

 

[osugrad21]

I've never heard of anyone getting kicked off a team for just smoking weed.

Agreed...but where/when does the line get drawn? Although these incidents may be minor and we can spin them to justify JT's actions, when combined they paint a larger picture of problems.

A child learns not to touch fire once...after that one time, it does not happen again.

 

[Piney]

I agree, but I am still opposed to making Haw or anyone else "an example",

If this was an isolated incident it is no big deal. The law (and by extension society) see's this as a $100 fine - no jail time. As someone else pointed out less than a speeding ticket.

The problem when you see a pattern of mistakes such as we are seeing is with management. It is the coaches responsibility to solve this problem. But when the coach say's "I am going to kick Eric Haw to the curb to set an example" what he is really saying is "I failed. I can't do my job. So I (the guy with the million dollar salary) am going to punish you (the amateur who drives the multi-millioin dollar machine) inordinately because I can't think of any othe way to solve the problem."

After reading everything that was posted overnight I was going to post something very similar Oh8ch. IT IS A $100 FINE in the eyes of the Ohio Law. I have had speeding tickets that cost me more. So those that are crying for him to get suspended severely would have thought the same if he got a speeding ticket? Or how about busted for alcohol? Because in the eye of the law it is all the same offense.

Actually I am less pissed now than when this happened. Why? Did anyone read the police report? He co-operated fully with the cops. He actually did not run away from the cops like he could have and he could have told the cop he had no clue what he was thinking of. Alot of worse things could have happened. But Haw stood up and answered honestly what the cop asked. Yes, this does count for something.

While I don't know what Tressel will do, I can easily see him put Haw full in the drug program, probation and tested regularly and then put through a ton of sprints until his legs fall off at 6am. If there is an on-field penalty it will be a quarter or half game suspension for Miami (OH).

 

[osugrad21]

Piney, I agree to an extent.

My issue is less with Erik Haw specifically and more with the general climate of the program.

After the past two years, for Skeete and Haw to be so careless reeks of a lack of fear towards consquences.

Just my opinion.

 

[exhawg]

Agreed...but where/when does the line get drawn? Although these incidents may be minor and we can spin them to justify JT's actions, when combined they paint a larger picture of problems.

A child learns not to touch fire once...after that one time, it does not happen again.

Unfortunately all of your kids don't learn not to touch fire after the first one does it. It seems like JT feels like he failed any player if he has to kick them off of the team. Certain actions require for players to be booted, but I don't believe this is one of them. A situation like Skeete or LI is more severe and they were justified in being booted.

After the past two years, for Skeete and Haw to be so careless reeks of a lack of fear towards consquences.

or stupidity

 

[osugrad21]

Unfortunately all of your kids don't learn not to touch fire after the first one does it.

Point taken...

 

[Dryden]

This is neither here nor there regarding Haw's behaviour, conduct, or his punishment specifically, but if anyone needs an example of how people have changed socially, I guess you really don't need to look much further than this thread or the one regarding Skeete.

I cannot understand how some people just don't fucking get it: dope is illegal. PERIOD. END OF STORY. Whether you roll it, pack it, sniff it, sell it, it doesn't matter -- possessing pot is illegal, so as 3yards pointed out, stop rationalizing Haw's or Skeete's behaviour as if it's ok because, well, 'it's just weed.' I can't believe how many people on this board keep getting suckered into arguing semantics with pot-heads.

This was mentioned by someone else earlier, and I think it's a valid point, but why/how does this crap become public so damn fast? I'm not advocating that the university or campus police start covering up the mistakes of OSU football players, but when the hell was the last time a football player on Tressel's team ever got one of those double-secret "Such-and-such was suspended for a violation of team rules." It just seems to me that someone at the campus police department has Tim May, Todd Jones, and 1460 on speed dial 5 minutes from the perpetration of a crime by anyone even remotely associated with the athletics department.

 

[FKAGobucks877]

Honest question - what else can the coaches do? What other way can JT solve the problem?

To me, this answer is simple. Set a fucking policy. For all of those who want to see Erik Haw as an example, my reply is this: you're wrong. Remarkably enough, we had almost this exact thread back when Troy Smith's story came out (about the $500 booster payment). I said this then, and I say it now - whatever punishment is in place for this offense, follow through on it. There is no quicker way to alienate your players or drive a wedge between players and coaches than by singling out individuals and making examples of them. The punishment needs to fit the crime, period.

Now, to answer LJB's question, JT needs to put his foot down. Not on Haw, but for the future. If he doesn't do something soon, he will lose the respect of the fans, the boosters, the faculty, and everyone else. So, put a new policy in place. Say it now - the next person that gets arrested WILL BE suspended for 5 games. Regardless of circumstances, regardless of mitigating factors, regardless of who, or what, or why, or when, or anything else. This is the rule. There are no exceptions. If anybody else gets arrested, they will be suspended for five games. Once this policy is in place, then it is completely justifiable and fair to enforce it should another offense take place. But to implement that type of punishment on Haw, or any player, without the policy being in place prior to the offense is unfair, and likely to cause even more harm.

Now, please don't take this for me saying that Haw should get off with a slap on the wrists. That is NOT what I'm saying. I am saying that for this occurrence, Haw should be punished according to the policy in place...but I am also advocating a policy change, so that *if* there is another offense, the punishment can be severe, yet fair.

 

[NorthShoreBuck]

When did Ricky Williams become the role model for OSU football players? :!

I hope everyone about ready to jump off the egde sees some humor in that.

Yes what he did is stupid and it will cost him.

If he does it again, or anything similar, I say he will have used up his chances.
Like many of the posters have already commented, when I was younger and in school I made a lot of dumb decisions. Today I still make dumb decisions, they are just not the same ones and I have learned from my previous mistakes. Hopefully the bad decisions I make are not on the same level as the ones I made before. That is a sign of maturity, something a lot of 18 and 19 year old kids lack.

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

To me, this answer is simple. Set a fucking policy. For all of those who want to see Erik Haw as an example, my reply is this: you're wrong. Remarkably enough, we had almost this exact thread back when Troy Smith's story came out (about the $500 booster payment). I said this then, and I say it now - whatever punishment is in place for this offense, follow through on it. There is no quicker way to alienate your players or drive a wedge between players and coaches than by singling out individuals and making examples of them. The punishment needs to fit the crime, period.

Now, to answer LJB's question, JT needs to put his foot down. Not on Haw, but for the future. If he doesn't do something soon, he will lose the respect of the fans, the boosters, the faculty, and everyone else. So, put a new policy in place. Say it now - the next person that gets arrested WILL BE suspended for 5 games. Regardless of circumstances, regardless of mitigating factors, regardless of who, or what, or why, or when, or anything else. This is the rule. There are no exceptions. If anybody else gets arrested, they will be suspended for five games. Once this policy is in place, then it is completely justifiable and fair to enforce it should another offense take place. But to implement that type of punishment on Haw, or any player, without the policy being in place prior to the offense is unfair, and likely to cause even more harm.

Now, please don't take this for me saying that Haw should get off with a slap on the wrists. That is NOT what I'm saying. I am saying that for this occurrence, Haw should be punished according to the policy in place...but I am also advocating a policy change, so that *if* there is another offense, the punishment can be severe, yet fair.<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

But how will we know what it means to be arrested???? :bicker:

 

[Pheasant]

Having had a day to calm down after hearing the news, I don't think Haw should be suspended much more than 1 game. Sit him for Miami and maybe the first half of Texas.
I still would like to see the school pres. and A.D. have a meeting with all scholarship athletes and institute a new policy. As has been said, you can't make an example out of Haw for a relatively minor crime. He should be dealt with according to the policy in place at the time of his ticket. All future issues should be dealt with according to a new (and more strict) policy.